In the past decade,the online gaming market has exploded in popularity.

More young adults are actively looking for a career in eSports since being a professional team memberis very lucrative. Although most of them don’t end up being pro players, many gamers are becoming more interested in eSports betting opportunities.

According to a study by New Zoo, the global esports revenue is estimated to grow to $1.084 million in 2021, which represents a 14.5% year-on-year increase.

So, if you want to find out the most awaited eSports tournaments of 2021 and learn more about this phenomenon, our list will come in handy.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Quick facts about the eSports industry

Since its early days, gaming has revolutionized the entertainment industry. The new wave of eSports has combined two things most of us love: sports and video games.

Nowadays, children want to go to “eSports university,” and they spend thousands of dollars on in-game purchases. In case you didn’t know, you can get a scholarship for being a significant gamer. Although most adults are notplaying professionally, they enjoy placing wagers on the main tournaments.

Recent studies show that the eSports betting market is estimated to $142 million, and it will reach $203 million by 2026.

But is it all fun and games?

Not really.

We agree that video games are a great way to spend your free time. However, psychologists warn us that an increasing number of gaming addicts are either spending too much time or money on games.

The problem comes from the fact that the most popular titles are games that use casino mechanics for the reward system and in-game purchases. Loot boxes are the main culprit, mainly because variable rewards are widely associated with slot machines.

Luckily, more countries are starting to realize the damage these microtransactions are causing, especially to the younger audience. They’re planning to regulate loot boxes and find a way to create an even ground for both the studios and the players.

Don’t get us wrong. We love playing a casual game of League of Legends too. However, you need to consider these facts no matter if you want to become a professional gamer or make some money from betting on eSports.

Now, let’s find out what events of 2021 you should watch:

1.     League of Legends World Championship 2021

Dates: September 25 – October 31

The most awaited eSports event of the year is the League of Legends “Worlds.”

Considered the most prominent eSports tournament globally, the World Championship is an event where 24 of the most major LoL pro teams from every region battle for the ultimate title.

The 2021 Worlds will take place in various cities from China, including Wuhan, Shanghai, Qingdao and Shenzhen. The starting prize for the tournament is set to 2.2 million, but organizers can increase the value based on in-game purchases.

The qualifying teams weren’t announced yet, but keep in mind that South Korean team Damwon Gamingis last year’s champion. South Korea isknown for their LoL talent.  It is the origin country of T1, the eSports team that holds three World Cups.

2.     DOTA 2 The International 2021

Dates: August 1 – August 31

Dota 2 is the eSports known for its substantial prize pools, which can go up to $40 million.

The Internationalis the main Dota 2 event of the year. After being cancelled in 2020, Valve announced that the championship would return this yearto Stockholm with 18participating teams.

The players will crowdfund the prize through the in-game battle pass system within the game. Since Dota introduced community contributions in 2013, the prize pool grew from $2.8 million to over $34 million in 2019.

The only team that managed to rack two back-to-back International titles is OG in 2018 and 2019. It will be interesting to see if they can keep the streak going or a new champion will take the crown in this year’s International.

3.     2021 FIFAe World Cup

Dates: December 2021

Every football fan has heard of the FIFA games. But did you know that EA SPORTS hosts an annual eSports world cup?

The FIFAe World Cup is the final of the annual series. The best players that qualify through the Global Series will clash in the ultimate showdown for a chance to win a large prize and a free pass for The Best FIFA Football Awards event.

Although the FIFAe prize pool is not as massive as the ones paid by Valve or Riot Games, it’s still quite large, considering that only one player will become world champion. The largest payouts from previous years are $250,000 for the winner and $50,000 for the runner-up.

You can watch the championship on classic streaming platforms like Twitch and Youtubebut also on TV. Since 2016, the FeWC was broadcast in over 100 countries.

4.     IEM Katowice: CS:GO

Dates: 16 –28 February 2022

CS:GO is a classic FPS with millions of players. Many eSports fans consider it the most difficult to master since you need to focus on team coordination and hand-to-eye coordination while also listening to the enemy’s footsteps.

The Intel Extreme Masters is one of the largest CS:GO tournaments, with a prize pool of $1 million. The tournament will host 24 of the world’s most prominent eSports teams, who qualify based on the points gained during the ESL Pro Tour.

5.     VALORANT Champions Tour

Dates: January – October

Valorant is the newest addition to the eSports roster. Developed by Riot Games, the hero FPS is a mix between CS:GO and Overwatch.

Valorant Challengers Tour is the first main competition for the FPS released in 2020. The best players that already reached the professional level can participate and become real eSports stars.

After all, we’re talking about Riot Games who have revolutionized the gaming industry with League of Legends. We expect this first edition to be a massive success since the company is trying to take over the other FPS games in fan base and pro player payments.

If you feel like you’ve got what it takes, Valorant is an excellent opportunity for you to become the nextchampion. Go out there, download the game, play for a while and see how you perform in ranked. The idea is that the game is relatively new, so the competition is not as fierce as in CS:GO or Dota 2.

Final thoughts

Now that you understand that the eSports industry is no longer just “children’s business,” it’s time to hop on the trend and make some money while you’re at it.

You have the option to train hard and become a professional player and streamer, or you can analyze the games and start wagering on eSports tournaments.

Bear in mind that gaming is not as simple as it looks. You can play casually and have fun or dedicate up to 8 hours a day to reach a pro-level.

Whatever you choose, make sure you’re not wasting your energy. Not everyone is made for being an eSports player, but you can still enjoy online games and make money without actually playing.